The treatment of bovine sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei var. bovis) using eprinomectin extended-release injection.

The efficacy of eprinomectin in an extended-release injection (ERI) formulation was evaluated in cattle harbouring induced infestations of Sarcoptes scabiei var. bovis (sarcoptic mange) in three studies conducted in Germany (two studies) and Austria (one study). A total of 44 cattle were included in the studies, 12 in one study and 16 in each of the other two studies. Approximately eight weeks following initial induced infestation, cattle in each study were formed into replicates of two animals each on the basis of pre-treatment bodyweights. Within replicates the animals were randomly allocated to one of two treatments: ERI vehicle (control) or Eprinomectin 5% (w/v) ERI (1.0 mg eprinomectin/kg). Treatments were administered at 1 mL/50 kg bodyweight by subcutaneous injection in front of the shoulder once on day 0. The number of live mites in skin scrapings was determined prior to treatment and at weekly intervals for eight weeks after treatment. Severity of skin lesions was evaluated and scored when skin scrapings were taken. In all studies, animals were weighed before infestation and again prior to and at 56 days after treatment. Mite counts for treated cattle were significantly (p<0.05) lower than counts for controls from Day 7 onwards. Cattle treated with Eprinomectin ERI were Sarcoptes mite-free from seven, 21 or 28 days post-treatment to the end of the study in the three studies, and lesions regressed accordingly. Mean weight gain over the post-treatment period was significantly higher for treated cattle than for controls in two studies. All animals accepted the treatment well.

Comparison of tocilizumab monotherapy versus methotrexate monotherapy in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis: the AMBITION study.

BACKGROUND: The anti-interleukin (IL) 6 receptor antibody tocilizumab inhibits signalling of IL6, a key cytokine in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate through the AMBITION study the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab monotherapy versus methotrexate in patients with active RA for whom previous treatment with methotrexate/biological agents had not failed. METHODS: This 24-week, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study, randomised 673 patients to either tocilizumab 8 mg/kg every 4 weeks, or methotrexate, starting at 7.5 mg/week and titrated to 20 mg/week within 8 weeks, or placebo for 8 weeks followed by tocilizumab 8 mg/kg. The primary end point was the proportion of patients achieving American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 response at week 24. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated that tocilizumab was better than methotrexate treatment with a higher ACR20 response (69.9 vs 52.5%; p<0.001), and 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) <2.6 rate (33.6 vs 12.1%) at week 24. Mean high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was within the normal range from week 12 with tocilizumab, whereas levels remained elevated with methotrexate. The incidence of serious adverse events with tocilizumab was 3.8% versus 2.8% with methotrexate (p = 0.50), and of serious infections, 1.4% versus 0.7%, respectively. There was a higher incidence of reversible grade 3 neutropenia (3.1% vs 0.4%) and increased total cholesterol > or =240 mg/dl (13.2% vs 0.4%), and a lower incidence of alanine aminotransferase elevations >3x-<5x upper limit of normal (1.0% vs 2.5%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Tocilizumab monotherapy is better than methotrexate monotherapy, with rapid improvement in RA signs and symptoms, and a favourable benefit-risk, in patients for whom treatment with methotrexate or biological agents has not previously failed.

On the substantial variation in serological responses in pigs to Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis using different commercially available indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Two trials were carried out to compare the use of different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the detection of antibodies against Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis. In the first trial, we employed four tests and 70 selected sera from a closed pig farm with sarcoptic mange. The sera were taken from the breeding area as well as from the finishing unit and compared with skin scrapings. The SARCOPTES-ELISA 2001 yielded the most positive results (88.58%), followed by the ELISA of the National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala (70%), the Acar-Test P-ELISA (52.86%), skin scrapings (48.57%), and the CHEKIT Sarcoptest (30%). In the second trial, eight litters from infected sows were examined from weeks 1-12 of life using the CHEKIT Sarcoptest and the SARCOPTES-ELISA 2001. The presence of maternal antibodies was highest on day 7 in both ELISAs and could be detected until weeks 5-9 of life. Antibodies increased as a result of an active immune response between days 56 and 63 in the SARCOPTES-ELISA 2001 and between days 70 and 77 of life in the CHEKIT Sarcoptest. Significant differences between the first and second litters were observed.

Efficacy of eprinomectin against mange mites in cattle.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether eprinomectin was effective against mange caused by Chorioptes bovis and Sarcoptes bovis in cattle. ANIMALS: 80 cows naturally infested with C bovis and 30 cattle experimentally infested with S bovis. PROCEDURE: 6 trials were performed to determine efficacy against C bovis, and 2 trials were performed to determine efficacy against S bovis. In each trial, a group of untreated animals or of animals treated with vehicle alone was compared with a group of animals treated with a 0.5% formulation of eprinomectin applied topically (500 micrograms/kg). Number of mites in skin scrapings was determined prior to treatment and at weekly intervals for 8 weeks after treatment. Severity of skin lesions was evaluated when skin scrapings were obtained. In 5 trials, animals were weighed before and 56 days after treatment. RESULTS: Mite counts for treated cattle were significantly less than counts for control cattle from day 14 onwards in trials to determine efficacy against C bovis and from day 7 onwards in trials to determine efficacy against S bovis. Mites were not detected in scrapings collected from treated cattle on day 56. Mean weight gain of treated cattle was not significantly different from mean weight gain of control cattle in trials evaluating efficacy against C bovis but was significantly greater in trials evaluating efficacy against S bovis. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Eprinomectin was highly effective against C bovis and S bovis. Because eprinomectin can be administered to lactating cows, it may be useful for controlling mange in cattle.

Polymyalgia rheumatica with a low erythrocyte sedimentation rate: comparison of 10 cases with 10 cases with high erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by severe proximal myalgias associated with an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). In this report 10 otherwise typical PMR patients with an ESR <35 mm/hr, and 10 PMR patients with an ESR > 35 mm/hr were examined and prospectively followed. We report the initial laboratory response to steroids in both groups as well as follow-up (average32.6 months in the low ESR group). The average follow-up for this study is the longest reported for low ESR PMR. The most significant difference noted was a longer duration before diagnosis and therapy for the low ESR group. Both groups showed similar clinical and laboratory response to therapy and similar post-treatment disease duration.The absence of an elevated ESR does not exclude the diagnosis of PMR. Clinical response to steroids and a drop in the ESR after therapy are proposed as useful to confirm the diagnosis.

Histology of the skin and determination of blood and serum parameters during the recovery phase of sarcoptic manage in cattle after avermectin (Ivomec) treatment.

Calves experimentally infested with Sarcoptes bovis were treated 14 weeks post infectionem with an avermectin pour-on preparation (Ivomec). On day 0 before and 14, 28 and 56 days after treatment mite count, scabies lesion score, histological sections of the skin, blood- (number of erythrocytes, PCV, Haemoglobin, MCV, MCH, MCHC, number of leukocytes, differential blood picture) and serum parameter (GOT/AST, GGT, GLDH, glucose, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, sodium, potassium and chloride) and Sarcoptes specific immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M were determined. 14 days after treatment no mites could be found in skin scrapings and the mange lesions were in recovery stage. 28 days after treatment the skin mostly was macroscopically unchanged. On all examination days in skin biopsies hyperkeratosis, mostly accompanied by epidermal hyperplasia and perivascular infiltration with eosinophil granulocytes and mononuclear cells was observed. The dominance of eosinophil granulocytes in the tissue decreased after treatment, while mononuclear cells increased and dominated in most cases on day 28 over eosinophil granulocytes. The differential blood count in most cases showed elevated lymphocytes on all examination days, increase of neutrophil granulocytes and decrease of eosinophil granulocytes between day 0 and 14. Monocytes on day 28 showed a marked decrease, thereafter on day 56 a marked elevation. Slightly increased serum enzyme activities were seen with GLDH and GOT on day 0 before treatment and with GLDH on day 56 after treatment. The specific antibody titer against Sarcoptes antigen showed decreasing immunoglobulin G titre and increasing immunoglobulin M titre during the investigation.

[The development of the body weight of calves with sarcoptic mange before and after treatment with Ivomec pour-on]. / Untersuchungen zur Entwicklung der Körpermasse von Kälbern mit Sarcoptesräude vor und nach der Behandlung mit Ivomec Pour-on.

In 2 stages of a trial the bodyweight of 16 calves (6 Fleckvieh female, 6 Braunvieh female, 4 Braunvieh male), experimentally infected with Sarcoptes bovis, was controlled between birth and until 25 weeks after treatment with Ivomec pour-on (5 mg ivermectin/10 kg b.w.). On the day of treatment and before the turnout to the pasture the living Sarcoptes mites and mange lesions were determined. The two stages were characterized by different degrees of mange, which also became noticeable in the daily increase of bodyweight on an average of 200 g and 570 g respectively compared with the untreated calves. After treatment of the animals of the control group the daily increase in bodyweight within a few weeks was identical with the increase of the bodyweight of the earlier treated calves, whereby 16/19 weeks after the turnout to the pasture (female calves) and the possibility to take in grass ad libitum and 16 weeks after beginning of fattening (male calves) respectively the group of earlier treated calves still showed a higher mean bodyweight of about 27 kg and 24 kg.

Integration of transcript and genetic maps of chromosome 16 at near-1-Mb resolution: demonstration of a "hot spot" for recombination at 16p12.

A single mapping resource, a mouse/human somatic cell panel with average distance between breakpoints of 1.2 Mb and a potential resolution of 1 Mb, has been utilized to integrate the genetic map and a transcript map of human chromosome 16. This map includes 141 genetic markers and 200 genes and transcripts. The localization of four genes (CHEL3, TK2, TRG1, and MMP9) reported to map to chromosome 16 could not be confirmed, and for three of these localizations to other human chromosomes are reported. A correlation between genetic and physical distance over a region estimated to be 23 Mb on the short arm of chromosome 16 identified an interval demonstrating a greatly increased rate of recombination where, in females, 1 cM is equivalent to a physical distance of 100 kb.

[The distribution and biology of Capillaria garfiai from Sus scrofa]. / Zur Verbreitung und Biologie von Capillaria garfiai aus Sus scrofa.

The infestation extent of wild boars (Sus scrofa) with Capillaria garfiai Gallégo & Mas-Coma, 1975 in East-Austria and the localisation of the nematodes in the tongue (n = 159) were examined. The infestation extent (prevalence) was between 66.6 and 90.9 percent. Concerning the location of the parasites in the tongue there was a striking difference between C. garfiai males and females. So, the number of C. garfiai females continuously decreased from the first to the fourth quarter of the tongue, whereas C. garfiai males could be found increasingly in the epithelium of the third quarter. Further, we investigated the biology of C. garfiai and could show, that the development is only involving intermediate hosts, which could be identified as earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris, Allolobophora caliginosa, A. rosea). The morphological characteristics of C. garfiai specimens of wild boars and domestic pigs were compared, but no noticeable differences could be detected.

The relationship between admission symptoms and hospital assaults.

Assessments at hospital admission of patients' potential for violence often rely on limited information, such as the patient's mental status, because detailed clinical and historical information may not be readily available. This study examined the relationship between symptoms at admission as measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and later violence of 127 psychiatric inpatients. Patients who showed higher levels of thinking disturbance, hostile-suspiciousness, and agitation-excitement at the time of admission were at greater risk of becoming assaultive during the hospitalization. The findings suggest the usefulness of specific symptom profiles for identifying acute psychiatric patients at risk for violence.